How our Sports & Business Program helps pave the way for students

Through the Melbourne United Sport & Business Program powered by SEDA, our goal is to help students on their journey within the professional sporting landscape.

As students work and learn alongside Melbourne United staff, they are witness to unique learning opportunities about how a professional sporting organisation operates at the day-to-day level.

For Jamie Van Kollenburg, who came into the program unsure of what pathway he wanted to pursue following high school, it was a welcome environment to experience.

“I knew I always wanted to work in sport, but after I finished Year 12, I didn’t really know the best way to approach it,” he said.

“I didn’t even really know what area of sport would best suit me, but through the diploma [program], I got the opportunity to learn from all the different Melbourne United staff and learn about what they do on a daily basis.

“That gave me really good insight into what was most appealing to me and what I potentially wanted to pursue moving forward.

“For me, when Jay Ellis, the head of Strength and Conditioning came in to share his story and how he got into the industry, it really resonated with me and gave me some clarity as to what I wanted to do. From there I could watch what his day to day was like which motivated me to try and go down this career path and now I’m studying Exercise and Sport Science at Deakin University.”

With positions open for the new 2026 cohort, Jamie encouraged anyone interested in working in sport to look into what the program can provide.

“I would encourage anyone to give it a go,” he explained.

“It’s a great resource for anyone interested in working within sport, and you get out what you put into the program. The staff are there to help you and help guide you on whatever you’re wanting to do. It’s encouraged to be curious and ask questions, which was a great environment to learn in.”

To find out more, be sure to sign up for the Melbourne United Sport & Business Program information session, which is set for August 20 at Melbourne United’s home of Hoop City Cheltenham.

Melbourne United works in collaboration with SEDA Group RTO: 22503 on marketing and promotional services relating to the recruitment of prospective students for this program. SEDA Group is responsible for the training, assessment, and issuance of AQF certification documents. The program consists of SIS50321 Diploma of Sport and BSB50120 Diploma of Business. In 2025 some of this training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. The RTO does not guarantee employment.